Heart Health
The term “heart disease” describes any disorder of the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) that affects the heart’s ability to properly function. Heart disease, thereby, can cause heart attack (aka myocardial infarction), congestive heart failure (CHF), angina pectoris (chest pain), stroke, and ischemia (reduced blood flow).
Staggering increases in heart disease have now been observed for decades despite a growing number of medical interventions:
- 250,000 deaths per year are attributable to a lack of regular physical activity.
- Nearly 700,000 people die of heart disease annually which is nearly 30% of all deaths in the United States.
- About 25% of all heart disease-related deaths occur in men ages 35-65.
Atherosclerosis, the most common type of heart disease, results from progressive narrowing of the arteries that supply oxygen and blood to the heart itself. It develops when calcium deposits build up on the inner lining of the artery walls due to chronic inflammation.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms of heart disease vary widely and do not necessarily indicate the severity of the condition. The classic indicators of cardiovascular disease are shortness of breath and chest pain (aka angina pectoris) which may radiate to the jaw, neck, or left arm and is often described as a burning, crushing, or squeezing sensation.
Major risk factors contributing to heart disease include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Increasing age
- Lack of exercise
- Male gender
- Obesity
Medical Treatment
An endless array of medications can be enlisted for the varied symptoms of cardiovascular disease: statins, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, anticoagulants, and vasodilators. Hundreds of adverse complaints have been registered, and many experts are calling for increased public awareness of the possible cognitive side effects of numerous heart medications particularly because of symptoms that may be misdiagnosed as dementia in the aging patients who take them.
Since all of these medications affect the heart and blood vessels, it is not unusual for patients to have changes in their heartbeat. Some of these medications may cause the heart rate to slow, while others can cause the rate to be irregular or fast. Fatigue is also a frequently mentioned side effect for many heart medications particularly for those used to treat high blood pressure.
You must be aware that all prescription drugs have side effects, and the medications used to alter the function of the heart are certainly no exception. Over the past four decades, numerous scientific reports have examined the relationships between physical activity and cardiovascular health. Long-term studies following large groups of individuals have documented the protective effects of physical activity for a number of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.
We see a higher rate of cardiovascular events and a higher death rate in those individuals with low levels of physical fitness. Even midlife increases in physical activity through changes in recreational activities or occupation are associated with a decrease in mortality. Despite this evidence, however, the vast majority of American adults remain effectively sedentary. Less than one-third of Americans meets the minimal recommendations for physical activity.
Through a unique natural health approach, Divine Design Natural Health uses targeted nutritional supplementation, cold laser therapy, detoxification, and chiropractic neurological adjustments for impressive results with many patients suffering from cardiovascular issues. Arrhythmias, chest pain, palpitations, and previous cardiovascular complications can be effectively altered through dietary changes and patient education focused upon active prevention and maintenance rather than passive damage control.
